Food, family and memories are as intertwined in the South as if woven on the same thread. At any function we attend, from a party to a wedding to a funeral, we are as likely to talk as much about the food that was there, as we are about why we are gathered. ~Mary Foreman

I'm your cook, not your doctor. ~PAULA DEEN

I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends. ~Ninny Threadgoode

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Old Fashioned Holiday Divinity

Not many people make divinity in the "old way" anymore and there's two primary reasons I believe. It's temperamental to make and it takes practice, neither one of which anybody is much willing to deal with today. Subsequently, most of us have turned to shortcut methods using the microwave, baking powder, packets of gelatin and marshmallow creme to easily stabilize things and not have to deal with the older, less convenient ways. The old fashioned ways. Not a thing wrong with that, except I do hate to see the death of the old methods.

Divinity, whether made the old fashioned way, or using a shortcut, should never be dry and brittle, or grainy and clumpy, but light, airy and with a creamy, soft bite.

Here's how to make it.

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Meanwhile, beat egg whites in a large mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Pour hot sugar mixture in a thin stream over egg whites while beating constantly at high speed with an electric mixer. Add vanilla, and continue beating 5 to 10 minutes, or longer, until mixture holds its shape and is no longer shiny. Stir in pecans. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto parchment paper or lightly greased waxed paper, top with a pecan half and let rest until set before storing.

Cook's Notes: Substitute well drained, very dry maraschino cherries or candied cherries for the garnish pecans. Makes 24 to 40 pieces, depending on the size you drop them. Let air dry thoroughly before storing in an airtight container, with wax paper between layers, at room temperature, for up to 2 weeks.

Tips:

The old wives tale for candy about rainy and hot, humid days applies here. Humidity is nothing more than water vapor in the air and, as the moisture does with meringue and with many candies, it will almost always affect the way your divinity turns out. Shoot for a 40% or lower level of humidity. I have heard forever do not attempt to make divinity on a rainy, damp day because it just will not set, no matter what, so wait for a clear, dry day to make it, if you don't want to end up with a sticky hot mess.

Separate your eggs when they are cold into separate bowls and then allow the whites to come to room temperature. Transfer the whites only to your mixer bowl to ensure you get no yolk mixed into your whites.

Your mixer bowl must be clean, dry and completely free of any oil, including any body oils from your fingers.

It helps if you have a properly calibrated candy thermometer. To calibrate, bring a pot of water to boil and test your thermometer reading. Attach the thermometer to the side of the pot and check the temperature. At boiling it should be 212 degrees F. unless you live at a high altitude. If if isn't, you'll need to make manual adjustments against your actual thermometer reading to be sure you are reaching the correct temperature.

You can sometimes correct a divinity fail. If it is too stiff, add very hot water, beating in a half tablespoon at a time until it reaches a fluffy consistency. If it is too thin and does not set, try adding 1/2 tablespoon at a time of powdered sugar until it thickens.

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5 comments:

I have made divinty on a rainy day and it didn't set. It was a bunch of goop. One that I make that you haven't posted peanut brittle. Also I'm looking for a good candy recipe with chocolate and coconut. Somebody posted one around Thanksgiving but I can't remember who. I don't think it was you or I would bookmark it, like I did your sour cream biscuits.

Hi Thena! I've only been food blogging for right about a year, so I haven't gotten around to a lot of candies yet. I love coconut and chocolate and coconut are such a natural together. I like the one where you toast a few cups of coconut for a few minutes in the oven and then stir it into about 8 ounces of melted semisweet chocolate chips. Then spoon it on a parchment covered pan into little haystacks. You can even take the end of a wooden spoon and make a hole in the center and make it look like a wreath, but that's kinda messy. It's a simple candy, but so good! I hope you liked the sour cream biscuits!! Thanks for stopping by.

I agree with you on the old ways of doing things. My kids think I'm crazy because I like to learn how to make things the way my ancestors did. Then and only then do I use the shortcuts. It's almost like an, "ok this is how it's supposed to taste so lets see if the new way is as good", kinda thing for me. :)

made this today they came out great. I did have an issue with a fail, but read about adding the powdered sugar and it saved it. I burned out the motor on my old trusty mixer though. Oh well at least now I have an excuse to buy a Kitchen Aid!!

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